Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove, left, is the top military commander of NATO. / J. Scott Applewhite, AP

by Jim Michaels, USA TODAY

by Jim Michaels, USA TODAY

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel spoke to his Ukrainian counterpart Friday, commending the government's decision to keep the military on the sidelines during the recent crisis.

Hagel spoke with Defense Minister Pavlo Lebedev Friday afternoon, after several days in which the Pentagon could not reach military officials in Ukraine.

"Minister Lebedev assured the secretary that the Ukrainian armed forces remain the protectors of the Ukrainian people, that their deployment inside the country has been focused on protecting defense facilities and equipment, and that his forces would not use arms against the Ukrainian people," Rear Adm. John Kirby, a Pentagon spokesman, said in a statement.

Hagel "commended the government's decision to keep the military on the sidelines of the crisis thus far and urged continued restraint," Kirby said of the call.

NATO's top military commander, meanwhile, spoke by telephone with the head of Ukraine's armed forces Friday.

Air Force Gen. Philip Breedlove, who also serves as commander of U.S. forces in Europe, spoke with Adm. Yuriy Ilyin.

"The nature of the call was positive," said Lt. Col. Mark Cheadle, a NATO spokesman. "They discussed the value of our bilateral relationship, and agreed to continue to maintain an open dialogue."